More basic cycling questions..

SCreeferGuy · 08/09/2014, 10:16 AM

OK, so my tank (135 g and ~30 in sump) has been cycling (dry rock to start) for a couple weeks - I just added pure ammonia and waited. Ammonia started at 1.2 and has gradually come down. Re-dosed it after nitrite/nitrate rising and fell quickly over 2 days to 0.2.

My nitrite levels have climbed to 1 and nitrate to 20.

Now the questions...

1. Should I do my first water change yet or wait for nitrite levels to also fall (still rising...)

2. Am in process of setting up 10 g QT, so I assume I will still keep pure ammonia dosing until fish ready (still weeks off, I know...) How frequently should I dose ammonia while waiting?

3. Haven't been running any lights - time to start? (temp stays 77.5 - 78.5)

3. When do I start the skimmer - after some bioload in tank?

4. Any problems adding some CUC (snails) while waiting for fish to get out of QT? Will they be affected by ammonia dosing? Or should I just ghost feed some for the CUC and stop ammonia..?

Thanks in advance...

billdogg · 08/09/2014, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCreeferGuy

OK, so my tank (135 g and ~30 in sump) has been cycling (dry rock to start) for a couple weeks - I just added pure ammonia and waited. Ammonia started at 1.2 and has gradually come down. Re-dosed it after nitrite/nitrate rising and fell quickly over 2 days to 0.2.

My nitrite levels have climbed to 1 and nitrate to 20.

Now the questions...

1. Should I do my first water change yet or wait for nitrite levels to also fall (still rising...)
I wouldn't - let it finish cycling
2. Am in process of setting up 10 g QT, so I assume I will still keep pure ammonia dosing until fish ready (still weeks off, I know...) How frequently should I dose ammonia while waiting?
I would ghost feed instead if it were mine

3. Haven't been running any lights - time to start? (temp stays 77.5 - 78.5)
Only if you want to see your rocks better

3. When do I start the skimmer - after some bioload in tank?
yes
4. Any problems adding some CUC (snails) while waiting for fish to get out of QT? Will they be affected by ammonia dosing? Or should I just ghost feed some for the CUC and stop ammonia..?
see #1 & #2

Thanks in advance...

Sounds like you are well on your way. I would just try to remain patient. When your Nitrite makes it to 0 do a water change, test the water again (just because) and head off to your LFS to get a start on the CUC. Remember to go slowly even with them.

Fallling · 08/09/2014, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCreeferGuy

OK, so my tank (135 g and ~30 in sump) has been cycling (dry rock to start) for a couple weeks - I just added pure ammonia and waited. Ammonia started at 1.2 and has gradually come down. Re-dosed it after nitrite/nitrate rising and fell quickly over 2 days to 0.2.

My nitrite levels have climbed to 1 and nitrate to 20.

Now the questions...

1. Should I do my first water change yet or wait for nitrite levels to also fall (still rising...)

2. Am in process of setting up 10 g QT, so I assume I will still keep pure ammonia dosing until fish ready (still weeks off, I know...) How frequently should I dose ammonia while waiting?

3. Haven't been running any lights - time to start? (temp stays 77.5 - 78.5)

3. When do I start the skimmer - after some bioload in tank?

4. Any problems adding some CUC (snails) while waiting for fish to get out of QT? Will they be affected by ammonia dosing? Or should I just ghost feed some for the CUC and stop ammonia..?

Thanks in advance...

1.Since your nitrates aren't too high and you're not cycling with liverock where you might be concerned about saving some of the life on it, I'd just wait it out and let it finish cycling. Then do a big water change to bring the nitrates back down.

2. Would also ghost feed.

3. I probably wouldn't run lights right now. With the high nutrients, it could lead to an early algae bloom. Again, if it were liverock with lots of life (I had gorgonians and brain corals), running the lights would be more important.

4. I'd also wait until there's more bioload to start running the skimmer.

5. I assume you're talking about adding CUC to the DT? Once the DT is cycled, you can add a small CUC and start running the lights. I would ghost feed at that point. Once the tank is cycled, I personally like to treat it as a fully running tank with livestock by keeping up on maintenance and water testing.

08/09/2014, 10:16 AM	#1
SCreeferGuy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: South Carolina Posts: 236	More basic cycling questions.. OK, so my tank (135 g and ~30 in sump) has been cycling (dry rock to start) for a couple weeks - I just added pure ammonia and waited. Ammonia started at 1.2 and has gradually come down. Re-dosed it after nitrite/nitrate rising and fell quickly over 2 days to 0.2. My nitrite levels have climbed to 1 and nitrate to 20. Now the questions... 1. Should I do my first water change yet or wait for nitrite levels to also fall (still rising...) 2. Am in process of setting up 10 g QT, so I assume I will still keep pure ammonia dosing until fish ready (still weeks off, I know...) How frequently should I dose ammonia while waiting? 3. Haven't been running any lights - time to start? (temp stays 77.5 - 78.5) 3. When do I start the skimmer - after some bioload in tank? 4. Any problems adding some CUC (snails) while waiting for fish to get out of QT? Will they be affected by ammonia dosing? Or should I just ghost feed some for the CUC and stop ammonia..? Thanks in advance... __________________ DSA 135 w/40 gal custom sump/fuge, Apex, Tunze powerheads and ATO, RO DCS 170 Skimmer, Waveline DC 10000 return pump Occupants: Rock...bacteria...fish...still working on it!